Kearney, Neb. – A balanced team effort, and two big jumps by Marty Molina and Clifford Bodie, helped the Nebraska-Kearney men's track & field win its first-ever RMAC outdoor title Tuesday in Pueblo, Colo.

The three-day meet was held at Colorado State-Pueblo for the first time. A total of 10 women's team competed with seven men's teams vying for the trophy.

UNK scored 183 points to edge three-time defending champion Adams State by nine points. Chadron State (146) and Colorado School of Mines (126) were well behind in third and fourth places.

On the women's side, the Lopers placed second for the fourth time since 2004 as they scored 161 points. Adams State won a seventh straight title by racking up 193 points with 129 of those coming on Tuesday.

The UNK men won six straight RMAC indoor titles from 1998-03 but hadn't finished higher then third at the outdoor meet since a runner up finish in 2001.

That changed over the last three days as the Lopers used four first place finishes, and 10 second place efforts, to end the Grizzlies reign.

Leading Adams by a half point entering Tuesday's action, UNK needed Molina (Kearney) and Bodie (Freeport, Bahamas) to place high in the final scored event of the meet. The pair obliged as they went 1-2 and, with junior Jacob Davenport finishing sixth, UNK out pointed Adams 21-4 in the event.

Adding to the drama was the fact Molina (49-9) and Bodie (48-3.25) top jumps came in their last attempt.  Molina's winning jump is also the second best in school history, trailing only John Laux's record of 50-5.

Joining thrower Dane Tobey and Molina in the winner's circle was sophomore Austin Muench in the javelin (188-2). A total of five Lopers scored here with senior Rich Mourer second (174-3) and Tobey eighth (152-1).

Tobey, who won the shot and discus on Monday, also finished eighth in the hammer (156-3). In this event, Mourer was runner up (176-10) and senior Nick Theis third (166-3).

On the track, sophomore Alex Paul (48.21) and freshman Cornell Leffler (48.75) went 2-3 at 400 meters and both scored in the 200 as well. The pair then helped the 4 x 100 relay team finish runner up (41.65) and the 4 x 400 relay team place third (3:18.68).

Next, sophomore Allen Osborn was runner up in the 110 hurdles (14.89) as was junior Cody Klein at 100 meters (10.97). Finally, freshman Kameron Weber was third in the 400 hurdles (56.61).

Not surprisingly, Tobey was named the RMAC Men's Regional Field Athlete of the Year with Andy Meyer and Brady Bonsall being named the Men's Co-Head Coaches of the Year.

After winning the shot and discus on Monday, Franklin senior Sam Murphy won the hammer on Tuesday with a throw of 159-4. She joins Kelli Dring (2009) as the only Loper women to win three RMAC outdoor titles in the same year.

Also in the hammer, senior Tracie Chanady was second (158-8). In the triple jump, junior Heather Wills was fourth (35-8.75) and freshman Kristi Bauer sixth (34-5).

On the track, UNK's top event was the 100 hurdles in which junior Jessie Golden (14.92), sophomore Jena Isaacson (15.23) and senior Cameron Smith (15.43) placed third through fifth.

Freshman Erica Pirog came in third in the 400 hurdles (1:04.00) with Smith fifth (1:05.36). Finally, the 4 x 400 relay team ran a 3:59.19 to come in second. That four some included Pirog, Smith and freshmen Shelby Hamilton and Karley Piper.